The Social Sponge

A well-authehticated story is told at Rhv. Dr. Naylor's expense, which is higrhly illustrative of a class of (lcm:tiuls often made upon our city preachers for hospitality, and suggests a verj' appropriatu method oi'.disposing of a olass ot' spongers who thiuk that a penny saved is a penny earned, even if it is savod at somebod else expense. The story goos - and we vouch for the truth of it, if not in detail, yet certainly in substanee - thattoward the close of the Exposition month tho doctors attention was drawn from hia books by tho stopping of a hack before his study and in a moment the entering of a well-dressed gentleman who saluted him iu & very familiar and brotherly manner. ' You have the advantage of me," said the bland doctor, as he seized the proffered hand of one whom he could not recognize. " üh, dou't you remember ine? My name is (we will say Jones, though that was not it exactly) ; you used to preach at our town, don't you remember 't Well, Sadie and I thought we would like to spend a day or two at the Exposition, and we do not like the bustle at the hotels, so we thought we would drive around and stay with you, as you are the only person we know in the city - " " Positively I cannot entertain you," was the prompt reply. " What ! Sick 'i Any of your family sick 't" asked the surprised sponge. " Not sick, but tired to death ! My house has been full ever since the Exposition opened, and my wife is worked down, literally worked down. I cannot entertain you, sir." ' Very sorry," replied Mr. Jones. ■' But perhaps you can introduce us to a quiet and comfortable boarding house - wedislike the bustle of the hotels somuch." ' 1 can do that with pleasure,' said the accoiurnodating doctor, and putting on his hat jumped iuto the carriage and took the man and his wife to a comfortable house and introduced them, then returned to his study, and took up the thread of the next Sunday's discourse where he had left it, a little tangled and raveled to be sure, by the needless interruption, conjratulating himself that his backbone was rigid enough for once to defend his wife from the ruthless assault of a sponge. But that was not to be the end Bf it. A 'ew days ago, in the rounds of a professional business, he called upon the landord of the house, who, when he saw the doctor, was about to leave without referrng to the little matter of business, apologetically said : " Doctor, I have - let me see ;" looking Over a tile of what appeared o be bilis receivable ; " I have a small jill here - let me see'. It is only sixteen dollars. Boarding your friends, Mr. Jones and wife, during the Exposition - only ixteen dollars, I see - " " Sixteen dollars !" exclaimed the asonished doctor. " I'll never pay in the world. Did the scamp go off without jayiug his bill 'r1 He is worth $75,000, very cent of it. Send it to a lawyer and nake him pay it, for I never will. The cold-blooded sponge !" The bill was sent to a lawyer, and Dr. Xaylor feels that he is growing in sense, and in strength, and begins to know how o treat sponges.